I guess it must say something about me that instead of making cookies I’ve started to opt for 3 hour long multi-phase weekend projects…but being that soon The Prairies will start to bake and crack like clay in the sun, my days where I can play over the stove and live to tell about it are limited. I’m trying to take advantage before cooking on the stove will give me heat stroke.
I love making simple, old fashioned food – almost as much as I love simple, old fashioned stories, houses, people, and cities. I live in a 100 year old home, what can you expect? So the pleasure of straight forward comfort food is never lost on me, and neither is the indulgence of eating anything that involves home made dough when it’s still warm from the pot.
Taking 4 hours to cook these up on Sunday was more than a little luxurious (1. I dawdled 2. making the filling the night before would really expedite the process) and it was the perfect remedy for me. I woke up and perused the job listings wistfully, hoping a post would read:
Tired of of it all? Questioning what the high stress, low pay, combative corporate world has to offer you? Become a shop girl without a care in the world! Pay is $17 an hour, plus bonus per blog comment when you write from work.
and failing to find it, or any other escape, I felt a little like the wind had been sucked from my sails.
So having a project that I could get lost in for a good chunk of time was dreamy. Thankfully, sometimes all I need to see the sunshine again is a little comfort. I love when it’s that easy, don’t you?
Recipe after the jump…
{images: by me}
Recipe (from More Than Burnt Toast)
Dough:
5 cups flour
1 T salt
2 eggs
1/2 cup oil
1/1-2 cups warm water
Filling:
1/4 cup butter
3 cups potatoes, mashed
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (or 1 cup cottage cheese or 1 cup sauteed sauerkraut)
Salt and pepper to taste
- In bowl, combine flour with salt. Beat remaining ingredients and mix together
- Ensure dough is soft but not too sticky. (These proportions worked perfectly for me, but if necessary, add 1 T water at a time until it forms a ball)
- Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface; knead about 10 times or just until smooth. Halve dough; cover with plastic wrap or damp cloth. Let rest for 20 minutes.
- Make mashed potato cheesy buttery filling!
- Work with one portion of dough at a time, keeping remaining dough covered, roll out on lightly floured surface to about 1/16th-inch thickness.
- Using a 3-inch round cutter (I used a big mason jar), cut dough into rounds.
- Place 1 tsp filling on each round.
- Lightly moisten edge of one half of the dough with water; pinch edges together to seal and crimp attractively.
- Place on cloth; cover with damp cloth to prevent drying out. Repeat with remaining portion of dough
- Boil 1 – 2 mins until perogies float. Serve immediately or store for 1 week.
Ashe Mischief
Yum, pierogies! I’ve been wanting to make these myself instead of paying $5 for a dozen of them…. thank you for the recipe, dear!
[Reply]
Nora
My mouth is watering at my desk which is a sure sign that yet again you have concocted something delightful that makes me want to leave the office and spend the rest of my day baking!
My mom once asked me why I love to cook and bake so much. The simple answer? I focus so much on making a delicious product that I can ignore the rest of the world which is sometimes just what a girl needs.
[Reply]
Marie
Those look fantastic! I bet they were super tasty.
Let me know if you find that sort of job opening. I’d love to do something similar, except in a bookstore!
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Jamie
YUM. Sign me up for that job if you ever find it and they need an extra person :)
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Andhari
They look great, although I really don’t have any idea what they are. Simply because I’m way way wayyyyyy far from there. I need to brush up on international food items, maybe but trying one of those? :D
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shannon
How fun! :) They look delicious.
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Elle Bee
Mmmm yum. There’s nothing like fresh, homemade pierogies. I would love to hang out in a kitchen with you and cook/bake all day.
[Reply]
Matt
You saved me some, right?
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apricot tea.
These sound good. I don’t know if I’ve ever had a pierogie before. :] You’re such a cute little homemaker. I love it.
[Reply]
hillary
oh yum! I can’t wait to make these!
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Lindsay
Yum! I, too, am a fan of anything with homemade dough. My grandmother used to make these and I used to order them all the time at this Ukranian restuarant near my apartment in New York. I think it’s time to make them myself, don’t you?
[Reply]
Lily
Those look amazing! And when you find that job posting, let me know, k? My dream job posting would also include something like, “must be willing to travel frequently, meet as many people as possible, and have working knowledge of blogs, Twitter and other social networking sites.”
*sigh* soon enough, right?
[Reply]
Sarah
Mmmm, pierogies! I haven’t had them in ages. Yours look delicious. Thanks for including the recipe!
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Alice
those looks DELICIOUS… although i am the opposite way and the thought of spending 4 hours on my dinner recipe makes me antsy. i like instant gratification.. :-)
[Reply]
LiLu
Pierogies?? NO YOU DID NOT MAKE PIEROGIES. B is from PA and those are his favorite things in the world! Thanks so much for pointing me to a recipe… it never would have occurred to me to MAKE them!
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Larissa
i <3 perogies. between you with your pierogies and nora with her green tea…im in crave mode. this sounds so lovely hon! why are you always doing such wonderful things? gosh i am always so jealous! i need some wonderful things in my life now. :D also i’m running off with this recipe, i hate the ones in the store with all the preservatives- they make me sick. but these will be yummy. thank you <3
[Reply]
Elly
” Pay is $17 an hour, plus bonus per blog comment when you write from work.”
Ha, let me know how your search goes! I’m pretty keen for a job that pays bonuses for blog comments :)
And wow, I’d never heard of Perogies before! I’ll have to try them out :)
[Reply]
mandy
Kyla! These look like they turned out fantastic and I am drooling here looking at your pictures. I am so glad that you made them from scratch. There is just something great about eating and sharing something you’ve made yourself.
I want a job like that too!
[Reply]
Erin
Yummy! I adore baking. There’s something so simple and organic about it.
[Reply]
Jessica
Wow these look delicious. I’ve never had a Perogies before but look lovely.
[Reply]
Andrea
I love that first photo Kyla, just beautiful.
[Reply]
rachel
it’s official. i’m in love with you. home made perogies? mmmmmm. i’ve never tried it, but i think i might have been inspired. :)
[Reply]
nicoleantoinette
Oh holy hell, that looks amazing. Definitely one of my favorite foods. You can make that for me anytime, lol.
[Reply]
Rugged Fox
They look delicious!
[Reply]
Rebekah
Oh, I’m hungreeeeee now!
[Reply]
E.P.
Perogies! YUM! Thanks for sharing the recipe. I’m definitely going to have to make these sometime soon.
[Reply]
molly
That looks delicious, and I love how you love simplicity. Too many people forget about it.
[Reply]
Allie
I love a relaxing day in the kitchen – although I’m more of the baker (dessert, anyone?), and Jeff is the real chef of the household.
[Reply]
Phil
Those perogies look delicious! I have a similar love, and when I’ve been stressed about school, I’ve been known to abandon studying for a few hours to cook something delicious instead.
[Reply]
MinD
Did you know that people in the south are sure what pierogies are?? Blasphemy, right?
[Reply]
aussiechic
So you are a fellow Vegas lover eh??? OMG we LOVE that town and have had SERIOUS fun there…cannot wait to go back………been there about 6 times over 3 years – DONT tell anyone….shhhhhhh…..we are addicted……
[Reply]
Elizabeth
Gosh, those look great! I always feel inspired to cook and bake, but once I get out in the heat here, all I want is cold food. Those will be great in the late fall here!
[Reply]
Margarita
I love perogies… it’s the polish girl in me talking ;) They look great, made from scratch always tastes the best
[Reply]
ruby
Oh my those look just beyond delish! Mmmmmm!
I hope that job shows up somewhere for you!
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